MHST Senior Wellbeing Practitioner

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Job Purpose: 

To work in an exciting service which we will be delivering across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough: The Mental Health Support Team (MHST). MHSTs will be based within schools, ensuring children and young people receive faster access to earlier mental health support. You will be one of the key team members in the setup and running of this new service. 

In this role you will support and provide a high-quality service to students (and their families) experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties. This will be done through the supervision and line management of trainee and qualified Educational Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs), and through direct delivery of evidence-based interventions to support the recovery of young people referred to the service, utilising skills and knowledge of CBT and child and adolescent mental health practice, and knowledge of whole school approaches to mental health. This work will be in accordance with clinical governance processes and professional standards.

Main Duties and Responsibilities 

Clinical 

Under the direction of the MHST Senior Clinician, be accountable and responsible for a defined clinical caseload 

Provide screening, assessment, psychosocial formulations and interventions (e.g. psycho-educational interventions, Guided Self Help, CBT, solution focused work, systemic work and group support), and to measure outcomes for all interventions, for mild to moderate mental health difficulties in educational settings 

Provide a service that is comprehensive and accessible to the whole school community, targeting mild to moderate mental health problems in children and young people aged 4 to 19 years old 

Provide a service that is equitable and non-discriminatory in terms of age, gender, ethnicity and disability or any other protected characteristic 

Support professionals in making appropriate referrals and in carrying out the mental health aspects of their own roles. To liaise closely with other professionals including colleagues in the Emotional Health and Wellbeing Service, YOUnited, Paediatricians, Specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health services, school counsellors, Children’s Services and other voluntary agencies 

Make appropriate referrals to other service providers in the statutory and voluntary sectors and redirect clients to other sources of appropriate support within the local community as required 

To provide consultation as required to other professionals (such as teachers and Family Workers) around mental health issues in children and young people in educational settings 

Clinically develop the provision of group work for children/young people and training for teaching staff, to include training and mentoring EMHP colleagues in order to improve the quality of the group work and training that we deliver

To work creatively with other members of the team to create training packages for teachers and support/awareness sessions for young people and parents/carers 

Develop a ‘local knowledge’ of the locality and its services and facilities, particularly in relation to mental health issues 

To deliver psychoeducation and support to parents/carers and teachers, conveying formulations with sensitivity in easily understood language 

To enhance emotional wellbeing and to promote or build resilience in children and young people through educational workshops, assemblies and PSHE lessons 

Conduct risk assessments, prepare risk management plans and initiate appropriate action where indicated (including referrals to relevant secondary care services) 

To actively contribute to team multi-disciplinary working 

Demonstrate appropriate understanding of the legal and ethical issues in providing mental health care to children and/or adolescents 

Demonstrate an understanding of the Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act and the Care Act. The post holder will also understand Safeguarding Children and Adults and Child Protection procedures 

The post holder will be required to work with young people whose behaviour is personally challenging and deal with frequent exposure to highly distressing or highly emotional circumstances 

To support the rollout of further MHSTs across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough 

Clinical Supervision and Training 

Undertake appropriate clinical supervision on a regular basis in accordance with the relevant professional guidelines and policies 

Provide clinical and case supervision to Education Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs) and Trainee EMHPs. This will involve supervising two elements of their practice: 

a.    Low intensity cognitive behavioural informed interventions and;
b.    Whole School Approach to mental health in education settings 
c.    Attend the EMHP Supervisors Course at the University of East Anglia 
d.    Offer training to Education staff and other agencies in CBT based interventions 
e.    Attend locally organised and national training appropriate to the work role 

Professional 

Take personal (unprompted) responsibility for achieving agreed clinical activity 

To develop an area of interest, in discussion with the Clinical & Team Lead to the level whereby the post holder could become a resource of information for the whole service 

Adhere to the policies and procedures of the Trust and the Service 

Maintain appropriate clinical records in keeping with service operational policy 

Participate in setting and reviewing of objectives for the post on an annual basis 

Participate in activities of ‘continuing professional development’ (CPD) on an annual basis 

Attend, organise and chair meetings as appropriate 

Communication 

Establish and maintain positive working relationships with professionals, agencies, charities and teams who also provide services to children and/or adolescents in the community. These relationships are a key part of the role in which you will be representing East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust and will benefit the child/adolescent and/or family 

Be able to clearly and effectively communicate both clinical and non-clinical information with those receiving care, their families/carers and with other professional colleagues as appropriate 

The post holder will be able to demonstrate a high level of interpersonal skills, self-awareness and empathy in all communications 

Represent the team at meetings as delegated by the Senior Clinician and/or Clinical & Team Lead and contribute effectively to the meeting agenda 

People Management

Ensure that clinically supervised staff maintain appropriate clinical records, including outcome data, in keeping with service operational policy 

Participate in regular audits of clinical activity, quarterly reporting, research projects and utilise data from the service’s Key Performance Indicators to enhance individual practitioner’s and the team’s clinical practice 

Take a lead or assist in the management and organisation of work as required, utilising the team’s resources to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of high-quality patient care 

Balance conflicting demands, including delegating work and understanding Service Key Performance Indicators 

Participate in service development and make an active contribution to pursuing the aims, objectives and overall strategy of the EHWS and the Trust 

Research & Development Activity

To lead and participate in regular audits, quarterly reporting, and research projects for the improvement of the team’s clinical practice 

To collaborate with other team members in the design and implementation of audit and research projects

Clinical and Practice Governance

Participate fully in providing quality care in line with local and national guidelines e.g. NICE Guidance & Quality Standards relating to children and/or young people with mental health difficulties and social care difficulties 

Observe and maintain strict confidentiality with regards to any patient/family/staff records and information in line with the requirements of the Data Protection 

Any data that is taken/shared as part of a phone call or transported, faxed or transferred electronically must be undertaken with regard to the Trust Information Governance and Information Security policies 

The post holder must adhere to the Trust risk assessment and risk management processes

The post holder must adhere to infection control policies and procedures

It is a condition of your employment that you are currently registered with the relevant professional body, and it is your responsibility to maintain your professional registration

Undertake mandatory training and any other training relevant to the role as required by East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust 

Provide patients and their families/carers with information on standards they should expect from the team  

The post holder is required to participate in relevant emergency preparedness processes and Business Continuity for their team and the EHWS